My Surprise Mate

Dane moved Kyra’s bassinet from the living room into our bedroom.

As I got Kyra situated in our room, Dane went outside to talk to the guys and fill them in.

He wasn’t gone long and told me our house would be guarded from now until Devin is found.I had this gut feeling there was more going on than we realized.I couldn’t sleep at all, and Dane slept off and on.I lay there watching Kyra most of the night and every little noise I heard had me sitting up in bed.

Kyra woke up around five that morning and I decided to stay up for the day.

After getting us both dressed, I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Kyra seemed to be her normal happy self just like any other morning, blissfully unaware of what was going on.

Unsure if all three guys had stayed outside all night or not, I opened the front door and stepped out to find Zayd standing near the steps, "Good morning," I told him.

He smiled at me as he walked up the steps, "Morning dear.You should still be asleep."

He pulled me in for a hug.

Zayd and Adria acted like parents I never had, and they always seemed to help ease my worries.

"I couldn’t sleep and, besides, Kyra woke up hungry this morning."

he smiled and nodded his head, "well she is a growing girl, and we tend to eat more than normal humans."

"l was going to offer some breakfast and coffee but wasn’t sure or Colby.

"I'll take some coffee," Zayd replied.

"Me too!" I turned to find Ash walking toward the porch.

Neither of them looked as tired as I felt this morning.I led them into the kitchen and started pouring them each a cup while they sat down at the table.

"Good morning little princess," Zayd cooed to Kyra.She smiled brightly at him as he picked her up.

"Did y’all stay outside the whole night?" I questioned them.

"Yes and no,"

Ash started, "Four people were guarding all night, but we did rotate out with three of our best warriors to be able to squeeze in a little sleep."

I nodded in understanding as I handed them their mugs.

"Don’t forget Adria was here periodically through the night too."

"I had no idea she was out here too."

I watched as Zayd and Ash exchanged a knowing look, "What you have never seen is pissed off Adria when her family is being threatened.She wasn’t necessarily coming out to help guard but more to make sure we were doing it the ‘right’ way."

Both guys began to laugh, "she had us stationed around the house so there wasn’t a single side left unprotected, and every 15 minutes we had to switch spots to keep us alert."

Zayd was shaking his head as he spoke.

Dane walked into the kitchen wearing only a pair of sweatpants that hung dangerously low on his hips.

"Did we wake you?" I asked as he wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on top of mine.

He was watching Zayd playing with Kyra.

"No, you didn’t wake me.It’s just time to get up."

The front door opened as Adria came rushing in, have no idea how much trouble you two were fixing to be in." she pointed her finger at Ash and Zayd.

"Holly invited us in for coffee,"

Zayd started telling her as he walked toward her with Kyra, "you know I would never leave this angel unprotected."

Adria sighed, "I know honey, I just...I won’t let them get to her."

Zayd handed Kyra to her, "None of us will,"

Ash finally spoke.

I looked at Dane when there was a light knock at the door, "It’s Genesis and Blaze,"

Ash said as he went to open the door.

"Good morning,"

Genesis greeted as she followed Blaze into the house.

Blaze went straight to Adria and began talking to Kyra.

After setting Kyra on her playmat, Adria came and sat down at the table with us, "Should we have our meeting now or later in the office?"

She cut straight to the point.

"We just need Colby here and we can do it now.No reason to wait." I answered.

"He’s on his way,"

Dane reached over, slipping his hand into mine.

within minutes and took a seat at the

received many

whole time I was talking, making

looking back and forth

that just

squeezed my

raised my eyebrows as I stared

elaborate friendly, maybe a little too friendly, and when he told

believe that Devin and Nyla were able to not only bring him down but

very strict ruler.His command alone can even bring an Alpha to his knees, yet he couldn’t stop

didn’t want to hurt him," I repeated what Jarek

to be shaking their heads at me, "I wish that I could believe that babe, but in all honesty, Apollo could have taken them both down without hurting them.His command may not work on Devin, just as it didn’t seem to affect you, but

conversations since then, trying to think of anything that seemed odd, but other than what Dane pointed out, I couldn’t remember anything that would make me feel as though he had lied at any

you think Apollo is

this time who had

us realized.I know this isn’t something you want to hear, but we don’t think he can

Zayd told me gently.

a little at the thought of being betrayed by my father, the father lam just starting to

you could get in of

prophecy.Ash and Colby, I need training kicked back up and regular sweeps up to two miles outside the border

heads, a resounding, "Yes Alpha"

slowly left, "When your dad calls, you need to act normal.Don’t let on

me as he sat down next to me.I was now sitting on the couch feeding

really in the

some phone calls to make.Do you want to stay home today, or do you want to

packhouse."

we can go together.I don’t want you out walking around by yourself, especially if

nodded at him

knew when their next move would be? We walked together to the packhouse, stopping a few times

to the office next door to his

of them that looked to

"Any luck?"

down in her bounce seat.I’m pretty sure Kyra has toys, playpens, and play mats in every room in the

and Genesis both looked at me shaking their heads, "Not yet, but

Adria replied.

carefully flipped through the pages as I scanned

rare, but the Moon Goddess has appeared in dreams before.But it doesn’t really go into details or

as she rose from

need to go get Blaze and I will be

to fuss just as Dane walked through the

currently reading and stood stretching her

phone; he said he would meet us downstairs for lunch,"

the clock hanging on the wall above the door, surprised to see it was already

explain Kyra’s mood

to miss a meal, I thought to

downstairs together, meeting up with

Kyra in her highchair between her

happened and is still happening, I couldn’t help but realize that even though Apollo has been friendly since meeting him, I don’t really know anything about

our conversations are focused mainly on Kyra and how she has

think it was odd

about Devin, the prophecy, or how things were going there, Apollo would always quickly change the subject back

murmured lost

should talk privately

of worry, but

mean, I know that Dane doesn’t really

was twisted into a thousand knots.I didn’t want to believe that Apollo’s intentions had been anything

finished eating lunch, Genesis and Adria took the kids to her house so they could take a nap while the rest of us went upstairs to Dane’s

is the brains behind all of this," I stated not waiting for

eyebrows shot up in surprise at my

phone calls with him.Every phone call is about me and Kyra, mainly Kyra though.Anytime I ask about Devin, or how things are going there, or the prophecy, he is quick to change the subject or gives me very vague answers in return.Then there is the whole "attack".. that really doesn’t make any sense now to be able to do this on his own, but Apollo is.What if Devin is nothing more than a foot soldier, so to

room was engulfed in silence once I finished spilling

stopped pacing the office

you.I do think Apollo is playing a part, but whether he is the brains or not I can’t say.I think

shook my head as I

did the phone

I looked at Zayd.

phone before lunch, and I am assuming

was planning to come and speak with

scrunched my face a little, "Why not talk on the phone about

smiled at me, "Vampires are

told me as he led me to sit down, "And your pacing is about to drive me crazy,

sat down with a sigh, wishing none

looked at Zayd,

very few people I fully trust to discuss this with.He asked about the bordering land.He wants to move his pack next to

as moving a whole pack, but then again, there aren't too many things he wouldn’t

sure why he felt he needed to move

do that?"

said he has good reason to do it.Dayton said his loyalty lies with his family and, as far as the Royal Pack goes, his loyalty is with you.He’s never been a huge fan of Apollo’s,"

loyalty wasn’t with

willing to stand

will have Adria

that Dominick will be coming sometime.We don’t need anyone attacking

left us alone in the office, the